Understanding the Impact of Black Market Betting on the 2025 Grand National

The Rising Challenge of Black Market Betting in Horse Racing

• The 2025 Grand National is projected to produce a substantial £9.4 million ($12.11 million) in black market betting.
• The Betting and Gaming Council (BGC) anticipates that the total amount wagered on the event will reach £250 million ($322 million).
• It is estimated that up to £335 million ($431 million) in tax revenue could be lost over five years due to black market betting activities.

The event of the 2025 Grand National, held on Saturday, April 5, 2025, stands as a significant highlight in the realm of horse racing. Evaluating the sport’s popularity, one might consider the illicit betting activities that accompany it. The BGC has noted in a recent update that black market betting related to the event is expected to total £9.4 million ($12.11 million).

Approximately 4% of the Betting Handle Might Derive from Unauthorized Operators

The BGC has shared further insights into the widespread appeal of the event hosted at Aintree Racecourse, estimating that a global audience of 600 million across 140 countries tuned in to witness the race. In the United Kingdom alone, at least 13 million adults are anticipated to place bets on the event’s outcome.

Moreover, the BGC suggests that a total of £250 million ($322 million) will be wagered on the main event, with around 4% of this amount going to websites operating without proper licensing in the bettors’ respective countries, likely including the United Kingdom.

A previous BGC survey indicates that within the United Kingdom, a staggering £4.3 billion ($5.53 billion) is gambled through black market websites. Addressing the Grand National, the BGC’s CEO, Grainne Hurst, has urged the government to acknowledge these developments.

‘This should serve as a wake-up call for the Government, which must guard against overbearing regulations that risk pushing gamblers toward illegal operators. Balanced regulations and a stable tax regime are the best defenses against this black market threat, which now poses an existential challenge to British racing.’

The referenced research indicates that one in five individuals aged 18-24 is already turning to what the BGC describes as the ‘unsafe, unregulated’ black market for online gambling, posing significant social and economic implications.

BGC Highlights Potential Tax Revenue Losses

The Treasury, according to the BGC, might be losing up to £335 million ($431 million) in tax revenue over five years due to bets placed with operators not bound by UK tax obligations, thereby depriving the state of potential income.

The BGC has also reviewed the most frequented racing websites by British bettors from August 2021 to September 2024, identifying 22 key operators.

While advocating for stricter measures against the black market both online and offline, the BGC reminds that its members contribute significantly to the economy, supporting over 109,000 jobs and generating £6.8 billion ($8.76 billion) for the economy, in addition to contributing £4 billion ($5.15 billion).